USA > Illinois > Winnebago County > Rockford > History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois, from the first settlement in 1834 to the civil war > Part 31
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William Brown was elected state's attorney for the Four- teenth judicial circuit. His majorities in the several counties were : Winnebago, 650; Stephenson, 480; Jo Daviess, 87; total, 1,217. His opponents were Francis Burnap, John C. Kean and Francis S. W. Bradley.
Charles H. Spafford was elected circuit clerk by an even one thousand votes; King H. Milliken was elected sheriff; Alfred A. Chamberlain, coroner.
At the county election in 1853 the entire Whig ticket was successful. Selden M. Church was elected county judge; Asher Beach and Alfred E. Hale, associate justices; William Hulin, county clerk ; C. A. Huntington, school commissioner; Duncan Ferguson, county treasurer; Duncan Ferguson, surveyor.
CHAPTER LXII.
THE WATER-POWER COMPANY .- THE MANNY-M'CORMICK SUIT.
JULY 15, 1851, many of the leading public-spirited citizens of the town associated themselves together under the name of the Rockford Water Power Company. These gentlemen were : Thomas D. Robertson, John A. Holland, R. P. Lane, G. A. Sanford, W. A. Dickerman, S. M. Church, Orlando Clark, C. I. Horsman, John Edwards, John S. Coleman, John Fisher, Wil- liam Hulin, Isaiah Lyon, Melancthon Starr, C. H. Spafford, Lucius Clark, J. J. Town, Henry Potwin, H. R. Maynard, Jas. H. Rogers, B. McKenney, John Platt, Albert Sanford, Chas. C. Hope, H. P. Kimball, Robert Clow, - Vanduzer and. - McCoy. This organization was effected in pursuance of the general law enacted by the legislature in 1849, for the improve- ment of Rock river and the production of hydraulic power.
In September, 1851, the owners of the water and land under the old company entered into an agreement with the new company, whereby the two interests were consolidated; and steps were immediately taken for the construction of a per- manent dam on the rock bottom of the old ford, from which the city derives its name. In the spring of 1853 the dam and race were completed and accepted by the company. The length of the dam is between seven hundred and eight hundred feet. The water-power is divided into twenty thousand parts, and is held and sold in this proportion.
The first great impetus given to the manufacturing inter- ests of Rockford was the advent of John H. Manny, in 1853. Mr. Manny was born in Amsterdam, New York, November 28, 1825. His father, Pells Manny, settled at Waddam's Grove, in Stephenson county. The younger Manny's attention was called to the need of a reaper by his father's purchase of a head- ing machine, which proved unsatisfactory. The father and son thereupon so reconstructed the header as to practically make a new machine. They obtained a patent on the header and began its manufacture on a small scale. It proved to be too expen- sive, and was abandoned. Mr. Manny then directed his atten-
U
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
tion toward perfecting a reaper, and after many vicissitudes, which brought him to serious financial embarrassment, his inventive genius and indomitable energy were crowned with success. Mr. Manny built eighty-four machines in 1852.
In July, 1852, a reaper trial was held in Geneva, New York, in which Mr. Manny's reaper came into competition with eleven others. The excellence of Mr. Manny's machine was established.
In the spring of 1853 Mr. Manny was urged to come to Rockford by Orlando Clark. The preceding year Isaac Utter came from the east, and formed a partnership with Mr. Clark, under the firm name of Clark & Utter. In the spring of 1853 there were manufactured one hundred and fifty of Mr. Manny's combined reapers and mowers, in Clark & Utter's factory. It is also said that John A. Holland told Blinn & Emerson, who were then in the hardware business, that it would be desirable to have Mr. Manny come to Rockford for two reasons: first, there was better water-power; second, the firm was extending liberal credit to Mr. Manny for stock.
The popularity of the Manny reaper demanded larger capi- tal. In the spring of 1854 Wait and Sylvester Talcott became associated with Mr. Manny as partners, under the name of J. H. Manny & Company, and during the year eleven hundred machines were made. In the autumn of 1854 Jesse Blinn and Ralph Emerson were added to the firm, and its name was changed to Manny & Company. In 1855 the famous trials of the Manny reaper were made in Europe, which gave to his inventions a reputation abroad. Mr. Manny continued to improve his reaper, and obtained twenty-three patents upon new devices.
In September, 1855, C. H. McCormick, of Chicago, began suit in the federal court to enjoin the Manny Company from using a certain device, upon the ground of infringement of patent. The case was heard before Justice McLean and Judge Drummond, at Cincinnati, although the court records were kept in Chicago, which belonged to the same circuit. Attorneys of national rep- utation were retained. Mr. McCormick's counsel were Reverdy Johnson and E. N. Dickerson. Peter H. Watson, who had obtained Mr. Manny's patents, was given entire charge of the defendants' case. Mr. Watson had formerly resided in Rock- ford, and later he became assistant secretary of war. He employed George Harding, Edwin M. Stanton and Abraham Lincoln. It is said E. B. Washburne had recommended Mr.
RALPH EMERSON'S RECOLLECTIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 323
Lincoln to Mr. Manny. When all the parties had arrived at Cincinnati, Mr. Lincoln was informed by Mr. Watson that Mr. Stanton would close the case for the defendants. This was a great humiliation to Mr. Lincoln. Although he had prepared his argument, Mr. Lincoln did not argue the case. Mr. Lincoln first met Mr. Stanton at Cincinnati. Mr. Stanton treated him with great discourtesy during the trial, and referred to him as a railsplitter from the wild west. Notwithstanding these indig- nities, Mr. Lincoln was impressed with Mr. Stanton's great force of character ; and when six years later a man of iron was needed, President Lincoln made Mr. Stanton his secretary of war. No other incident in the life of Mr. Lincoln better illus- trates his moral greatness. The trial resulted in a victory for the Manny Company. The decision was announced January 16, 1856. The defendants' expenses of the suit were sixty thousand dollars, and this large sum was made from the business in a short time. Mr. McCormick appealed the case to the United States supreme court, where the decision of thelower court was affirmed, and Mr. Manny's rights as inventor were fully sustained.
Ida M. Tarbell's Life of Lincoln, republished from her serial in McClure's Magazine, gives an incident of this trial, which the author obtained from Ralph Emerson, who says :
"Mr. Stauton closed his speech in a flight of impassioned elo- quence. Then the court adjourned for the day, and Mr. Lincoln invited me to take a long walk with him. For block after block he walked rapidly forward, not saying a word, evidently deeply dejected.
"At last he turned suddenly to me, exclaiming : 'Emerson, I'm going home.' A pause. 'I am going home to study law.'
''Why, I exclaimed ; 'Mr. Lincoln, you stand at the head of the bar in Illinois now! What are you talking about ?'
"'Ah, yes,' he said, 'I do occupy a good position there, and I think that I can get along with the way things are done there now. But these college-trained men, who have devoted their whole lives to study, are coming west, don't you see? And they study their cases as we never do. They have got as far as Cin- cinnati now. They will soon be in Illinois.' Another long pause ; then stopping and turning toward me, his countenance suddenly assuming that look of strong determination which those who knew him best sometimes saw upon his face, he exclaimed, 'I am going home to study law! I am as good as
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
any of them, and when they get out to Illinois I will be ready for them.' "'
Mr. Lincoln once visited Rockford on professional business in connection with this suit. It was on a hot summer after- noon. Mr. Lincoln and one of the clients sat on an old log on the bank of the river and discussed the matter. Mr. Lincoln wore a long linen coat, and presented that picture of ungainli- ness with which the world is familiar. Mr. Lincoln was a guest at Mr. Manny's home, which was a small frame building that stood on the site of the Milwaukee depot. The company paid Mr. Lincoln one thousand dollars, which was the largest fee he had received up to that time.
The prolonged mental strain incident to perfecting his inven- tions and the trial of the suit undermined Mr. Manny's health. He fell a prey to consumption, and January 31, 1856, he passed away, in his little modest home on South Main street, when he had just passed his thirtieth birthday. He never realized the wealth which his inventions would bring to others, nor the prestige which they would give to the Reaper City, nor the great name which he had made for himself.
Mrs. Manny received a royalty of twenty-five dollars on every machine manufactured. This amount was subsequently reduced. Financial reverses overtook the company in 1857, but it weathered the storm, and built an extensive plant.
During the next few years after the arrival of J. H. Manny, other manufacturers began business on the water-power. D. Forbes & Son established their iron foundry in 1854, and in 1864 the malleable iron works were added to the business.
Joseph Rodd came to Rockford from Canada in the autumn of 1853, and a few years later he embarked in the milling busi- ness on the east side of the river. Mr. Rodd's home was the residence of Colonel Lawler on Kishwaukee street.
In 1854 M. Bartlett & Company built one of the finest stone structures on the water-power for a flouring mill. The Troxell mill was established in 1853 on the East side, and in 1855 it was purchased by Mr. Bartlett.
T. Derwent & Son began the milling business on the water- power in 1859.
Messrs. Bertrand & Sames were engaged in the manufacture of cultivators in the middle fifties.
W. D. Trahern came to Rockford in 1848 and manufactured threshing machines on the old water-power, under the firm name
325
THE MANNYS-N. C. THOMPSON.
of Trahern & Stuart. In 1856 Mr. Stuart retired and was suc- ceeded by Mr. Dales. Later Mr. Trahern manufactured iron pumps. He died November 2, 1883.
In 1854 John P. Manny began the manufacture of knife sections in Rockford for John H. Manny's reapers. He suc- ceeded in producing a knife section that was hardened by his own peculiar process in oil tempering, which has never been surpassed to this day.
F. H. Manny came to Rockford in 1859 and a few years later he was engaged in manufacturing the John H. Manny combined reaper and mower.
N. C. Thompson came to Rockford in 1857, and for years he manufactured exclusively the John P. Manny reaper and mower.
William Gent came to Rockford in 1857, and was associated with John Nelson in scroll work, and later he assisted the inventor in perfecting his knitting machine. Mr. Gent was con- sidered one of the best working mechanics in the state. He died June 20, 1887.
CHAPTER LXIII.
EMERSON, LOWELL, WHIPPLE AND OTHERS LECTURE IN ROCKFORD.
T HERE has been one movement in the history of the Ameri- can mind which gave to literature a group of writers enti- tled to the name of a school. This was the great humanitarian movement, or series of movements, in New England, which began with the elder Channing, ran through its later phase in transcendentalism, and spent its force in the anti-slavery agita- tion and the enthusiasms of the civil war. This movement was cotemporary with the preaching of many novel doctrines in religion, sociology, science, education, medicine and hygiene. New sects were formed. There were Millerites, Spiritualists, Mormons, Swedenborgians and Shakers.
This intellectual and moral awakening found its expression in the lecture platform. The daily newspaper had not assumed its present blanket-sheet proportions; and the leaders of these various phases of new thought carried their message to the people in person.
In the autumn of 1853 the Young Men's Association was organized, for the purpose of bringing to Rockford the most popular lecturers of the day. Among its members were Rev. H. M. Goodwin, C. H. Spafford, H. H. Waldo, H. P. Holland, E. W. Blaisdell, J. E. L. Southgate, William Lathrop, R. A. San- ford, E. H. Baker, Rev. J. Murray, E. C. Daugherty, A. S. Miller.
The first course was provided for the winter of 1853-54. It began with two lectures, November 29th and 30th, by E. P. Whipple, in the First Baptist church. Itis almost incredible that one of the local newspapers should not have even given the subject of his lecture. From the other, however, it is learned that Mr. Whipple's theme for this first lecture was Heroic Char- acter, and that he "delineated graphically and beautifully the hero-soldier, led on by his love of glory ; the hero-patriot, actu- ated by his love of country ; the hero-reformer, moved by his love of humanity ; and the hero-saint, animated by his love of God." The subject of his second lecture was Eccentric Charac- ter. The Forum's criticism was not very appreciative.
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HORACE GREELEY'S IMPRESSIONS OF ROCK RIVER.
The third lecture was given December 10th, at the Baptist church, by Horace Mann. His subject was Young Men. The Democrat, in "reporting" the lecture, took this flattering unc- tion to its soul : "As we looked around over the large assem- blage of youth, beauty, intellect and fashion, and noted with what anxiety the sea of heads were turned toward the speaker, as if to catch the words ere they left his lips, we experienced a deep feeling of pride, and thought to ourselves, few places in any land, of equal age, population, etc., can boast of a more highly refined, intellectual community than are to be found in our own little embryo city."
The fourth lecture was given in the City Hall, by George William Curtis, December 12th. His subject was Young America, and for an hour and a half the speaker entranced his audience with his noble thought and pure diction. After refer- ring to the Alps, Mr. Curtis said : "But there are loftier mount- ains than the Alps; there is a lovelier landscape than that unfolded by Italy, with all its richness and allits beauty. There is a land more beautiful, more voluptuous, more soul-satisfy- ing ; a region far away, but which every man has visited ; a paradise into which no care, no sorrow, no vice ever enters; where Barnburners and Hunkers lie down together; where all heads are silver-gray, woolly ; where painters praise each oth- er's pictures ; musicians are not jealous of their fellow artists ; ladies with blue do not dislike brown eyes in others; where musicians on wintry, moonlight nights, serenading delightful damsels, blow their fingers and their instruments only for love. Millions have sailed for the shores of this fair country, with the faitlı of a Columbus or a Franklin, and millions have failed to reach them ; like the child running to catch the setting sun only to grasp the cold grey of the evening, so we essay to gain the favored land ; it is the California to which thousands sail, only to get wrecked on Cape Horn; it is the eyes of his mistress to the ardent lover, just before she jilted him. This favored land is the land of Fancy, pictured on the ardent soul of youth."
Horace Greeley followed Mr. Curtis. His theme was The Reforms of the Age. He spoke of the abolition and temperance movements, woman's rights, and the abolition of the death penalty. Mr. Greeley wrote his impressions of the Rock river valley at some length for the New York Tribune, from which this characteristic paragraph is taken : "I have traversed the Roman Campana (which is only a great wet prairie surcharged
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
with malaria and ruins), glanced at the great pastures of Bel- gium, and ridden across the prairies of central and northern Indiana by daylight, lamplight, and moonlight; but still I was nowhere in a discussion of the value and attractiveness of prairies-for I had never been on Rock river. But now, gentle- men ! I give you fair warning that I take a back seat no longer when the felicities of western life and the genial fertility and Eden-like character of the prairies is under discussion-for I have been on Rock river! . . I should like more springs, more running streams, and less lime in the water; but then Paradise is beyond Jordan, or some other stream, and is not wisely sought even on Rock river."
The next speaker was Prof. Joseph Emerson, of Beloit, who spoke on Greek Civilization. W. H. Channing was announced for January 27th, but no reference to the lecture is found.
Ralph Waldo Emerson delivered the seventh lecture in the course February 3, 1854, in Warner's Hall. "Emerson's lecture," says H. H. Waldo, "was not without its comical fea- tures. His subject was History. I believe it was the same as his essay with that title. One scintillation was this: 'Time vanishes to shining ether the solid angularity of facts. Carth- age was, but is not.' This was only saying there was nothing permanent. He gave this thought in a matter-of-fact style. The hall was packed, but half the audience were sleepy. The lecture was pronounced by some to be a failure."
Lectures were given during this season by Bishop Potter, Chancellor Lathrop; Judge Doolittle, of Wisconsin, on The Character of Washington; Bayard Taylor, two lectures, on the Arabs, and Japan and the Japanese. March 27, 1854, Ole Bull and Patti were in Rockford.
The course for 1854-55 included Rev. E. H. Chapin, Josiah Quincy, John G. Saxe, John Pierpont, James Russell Lowell, and Bayard Taylor. Dr. Chapin spoke on Modern Chivalry; Mr. Saxe gave a poem-lecture on Yankee Land ; John Pierpont's theme was The Golden Calf; Lowell spoke on English Ballads, and Bayard Taylor, on India.
The course of 1855-56 was opened by Henry Ward Beecher, who spoke on Patriotism. He was followed by Wendell Phil- lips. T. Sarr King and Dr. Chapin were engaged for this course.
During the next few years Rockford was favored with P. A. Shillaber, Park Goodwin, John B. Gough, and Prof. Youmans.
In 1860 the Young Men's Association ceased to exist.
CHAPTER LXIV.
A FRAGMENT OF POLITICAL HISTORY .- ROCKFORD BANKS .- NOTES.
R OCKFORD has claimed the honor of the birthplace of the Republican party, so far as a congressional nomination under that name is concerned. "Seven cities fought for Homer dead ; " likewise many places have contended for the honor of the first party organization. Rockford's claim to the first con- gressional nomination is certainly not unreasonable; and even if it cannot be sustained, it will at least call attention to a not- able political event.
When the Kansas-Nebraska bill was passed by congress in May, 1854, there was a general feeling in the old Whig and Democratic parties that the encroachments of the slave-power demanded more vigorous resistance. With this end in view, a call was issued August 8th, to the voters of the First Con- gressional district, for a mass meeting to be held in Rockford on the 30th instant. This call was signed by forty-six citizens of Rockford, only five of whom are now living. The meeting was called to order in the court house, and from there adjourned to the grove west of the Baptist church, between Court and Winnebago streets. E. B. Washburne had been elected a inem- ber of congress as a Whig two years before, and was of course a candidate for re-election. There were other Richmonds in the field : Turner and Sweet, of Freeport ; Loop, of Rockford; and Hurlbut, of Belvidere. None of these were openly avowed can- didates ; but each was anxious for the prize. A committee on resolutions of one from each county was nominated. There was ambition mixed with patriotism. It was a time of breaking up of old parties, and the future was uncertain. How far would it be safe to declare against the action of congress? This was a serious question. The leaders were against Washburne, but the people were with him. There is a tradition that the com- mittee on resolutions was directed somewhat by the suggestions of Stephen A. Hurlbut, in preparing anti-slavery resolutions so radical that Mr. Washburne, it was thought, could not accept a nomination upon them. But Mr. Washburne was equal to
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HISTORY OF ROCKFORD AND WINNEBAGO COUNTY.
the occasion. He declared that the resolutions met his most hearty approval; whereupon James Loop remarked, in lan- guage more emphatic than pious, that Washburne would swal- low anything. Mr. Washburne was thereupon nominated as a Republican by this mass convention.
The regular Whig convention for the district was held Sep- tember 6th, and Mr. Washburne was also made the nominee. His nomination was opposed by Mr. Hurlbut, who on the day of the convention is reported to have said : "When you say that E. B. Washburne is a good man, I agree with you. But when you say he is a wise man and a statesman, there is a chance for an argument. It has been said Mr. Washburne is a man of learning. But Isay that as a man of learning, E. B. Washburne, of Fever river, Galena, possesses frightful limitations." Mr. Hurlbut was a consummate master of sarcasm, which he often used without mercy. But it has been said that while Hurlbut could make the better speech, Washburne won the votes; and on the whole, he was the more successful politician.
In the evening Mr. Washburne entertained his friends at a banquet at the City Hotel. Some time after this Whig conven- tion, Mr. Hurlbut met H. H. Waldo, who had supported Mr. Washburne, and complimented him on his splendid fight, and said that, considering the material at hand, he had done well.
Thus was made one of the first, if not the very first, Repub- lican nomination for member of congress. The strong anti- slavery sentiment of both parties had been intensified by the repeal of the Missouri compromise, under the leadership of Ste- phen A. Douglas, and the passage of the Illinois Black Laws, through the influence of John A. Logan. Like Saul of Tarsus before he saw a great light, Logan was dominated by prejudice ; and, like Paul after his change, he bravely befriended those he formerly oppressed. General Logan always had the courage of his convictions ; and his political change was sincere.
In 1854 Mr. Hurlbut thought he could take a more radical position on the slavery question than Mr. Washburne. He had left the south because he was in sympathy with northern prin- ciples. Stephen A. Hurlbut was born in Charleston, South Car- olina, in 1815, and settled in Belvidere in 1845. He was the son of a Unitarian clergyman, and a brother of William Henry Hurlbut, for many years editor-in-chief of the New York World. He was commissioned a brigadier-general in 1861, commanded the Fourth division at the battle of Shiloh, and for that service
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STEPHEN A. HURLBUT-ROCKFORD BANKS.
he was promoted to the rank of major-general, and assigned to the command of the Department of the Gulf. General Hurl- but was the first commander-in-chief of the Grand Army of the Republic; was appointed minister resident to the United States of Columbia, by President Grant. From 1873 to 1877 he rep- resented the Fourth district in congress. In 1881. General Hurlbut was appointed United States minister to Peru, and died at Lima in the spring of the following year. Abraham Lincoln once said that Stephen A. Hurlbut was the ablest ora- tor on the stump that Illinois had ever produced.
Edward D. Baker, E. B. Washburne, John F. Farnsworth, Stephen A. Hurlbut and Robert R. Hitt were men of national reputation who have served the several districts in which Rock- ford has from time to time been located. This record is scarcely less notable than that of the old Western Reserve district, which was represented by Elisha Whittlesey, Joshua R. Giddings and James A. Garfield, whose terms aggregated fifty-one years.
The banking house of Spafford, Clark & Ellis was founded in November, 1854. The firm consisted of C. H. Spafford, Dr. D. G. Clark, and E. F. W. Ellis. Dr. Clark came to Rockford in 1848. Two years later he went to California, and returned in 1853. Dr. Clark died October 4, 1861. Spafford, Clark & Ellis did business in the stone building on the alley, on the south side of State, between Main and Church, now owned by Hon. E. B. Sumner. This bank went into liquidation, and Mr. Spafford paid its obligations in full.
In 1854 was also established the banking house of Briggs, Spafford, & Penfield, in East Rockford, which became the Third National Bank. The members of the firm were C. C. Briggs, A. C. Spafford, and David Penfield.
January 1, 1855, the banking firm of Dickerman, Wheeler & Company began business on West State street. The firm consisted of W. A. Dickerman, Buel G. Wheeler, G. A. Sanford, R. P. Lane. This house became the Second National Bank.
Fuller & Tomkins began banking business in the Worthing- ington Block, East Rockford, in 1853. The firm consisted of A. C. and E. L. Fuller, and Enos and N. C. Tomkins, all of Belvidere. The firm was later called E. L. Fuller & Company.
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